Dean I believe we're about ready to pull the plug on a front projector and I was just about set to get a JVC HD250 but most on the AVS site suggested I wait until after CEDIA. I waited and now it looks like the JVC RS45 might be on the top of my list.

Only thing is..

We've been watching a 73" DLP TV for the past five years and I'm a little apprehensive about going to the LCoS technology, most everything I've read states that nowadays it really doesn't make that much of a difference but still. I'm hearing the RS45 will be ideal for viewing 2D material and that will be darn near 100% of our viewing.

Rick, what are the big reasons for the RS45? With all of the new projectors coming out, I've been wondering what is the best for the bucks. It has the same MSRP as the Panasonic AE7000U, but the 7000 has more contrast (yea, I know that the numbers aren't "real")...

I hadn't even looked at the JVC models since they have historically been more expensive, so I value your insight.

Hey Rick thanks for the info. Two years ago when I was first projector shopping JVC kept popping up but they were just too pricey back then so I considered Sony since they were also LCoS which I had read very good things about. Eventually due to price it came down to the Espon or Panny and a couple of things pushed me toward the Panny despite knowing it would cost more in the long run because of the hours Iíd be putting on it. The final selling points for me were that the Panny was shipping before the ďfederal holyday seasonĒ kicked in so I could start enjoying it right away. Reviews said it had better shadow detail which for gaming was more important to me than more brightness and slightly better black levels of the Epson.

Since this is your first projector donít disregard one of last yearís Epsons. They have dropped in price and being this is your first projector itís going to blow you away no matter what you buy. When I first fired up the Panny and put in Elder Scrolls Oblivion my jaw hit the floor not because of the pictures size but the clarity, black level, and colour depth but blew my 56Ē Samsun DLP with pretty new bulb out of the room. Literally I moved it out of the room because I just couldnít even look at it anymore the picture on the Panny was so much better. This was one of the reasons I went with something less expensive than the JVC and Sonyís even though research told me I would prefer LCoS. I finally figured that just upgrading to a projector would be such a huge improvement I wouldnít really appreciate the extra performance paying $3,000 more would give me in a JVC. So in a long winded way Iím saying again donít dismiss one of last yearís projectors if you can get it for a lot less than a new model especially if 2D is all youíre watching. Paying twice the price is not going to give you much more than an incremental boost in performance.

FYI the reason I went ahead and pulled the trigger on this Panny is because I do want something a little brighter but with similar pictures characteristics which this is supposed to have both of. I want to give 3D a try to see if I like it so I donít end up likening it and feeling the need to upgrade movies I might be buying 2D versions of instead. Too have a second projector so if one goes out I have a backup while the other is getting fixed, I just canít look at the smaller screen (46Ē LCD) for very long before my eyes start to hurt (near vision going with age). And finally because last time I spent way too much time fretting over which projector to buy, bouncing back and forth between them and finally ending up with the first one I wanted in the first place. So I decided just to cut my losses and buy a Panny. I might regret it or I might not but at least I didnítí waste a ton of time researching and re-researching my choices when I could instead be enjoying my system.

P.S. Derail this thread as much as you like, itís happened quite a few times before and will likely happen many more times. Besides Iím sure itís not hurting the view count.

I saw on the Projector Peopleís web site that the 3D glasses are now $99 vs the $ 149 they were last week. Not sure how the sizing goes so Iíll need to call them. Iíll also have to ask if these are the same ones or different since I donít know much about 3D glasses.

One step up I would consider the 8700 which is about $2,200 or less right now. However, if considering this I would probably go with the AE4000 at $2,000 myself but there are good arguments for going either way.

I like what I read about the JVCs but in this price class it didnít even beat the Espon. The next one might be better but until itís out who knows.

IMO if you want to stay around 2K vs 3K for the newer models I would be looking at either the Epson 8350, 8700 or Panasonic 4000.

One thing to note is that the 4000 shared best in class with the comparable Epson two years age and won against the newer projectors last year despite being not even being a new model. My only problems with whole heartedly recommending the AE4000 to everyone is that itís not a light cannon so it might not work for bright rooms with long throw distances and screens under 1.3 gain, and initial cost + bulb replacements are going to drive the price up compared to the Epson 3850 and 8700.

FWIW when I was placing my order two years ago my sales rep at Projector People said that after seeing the Panny and Espsonís A/B compared he would do anything he could to talk me out of the Epsons because the Panny was that much better he already knew I would be shipping the Epson back (I was going to buy both and send back the one I liked the least). IMO the PQ is simply breathtaking, as Art at projector reviews says ďThe Panasonic PT-AE4000 projector has a very natural look to the image. This Panasonic projectors is one of the more film-like 3LCD projectors.Ē confirmed by my experience. That when combined with his previous recommendation leads me to believe that heís being honest when he says that the AE7000 is far superior to the AE4000. Especially since he knows that I will have both projectors up and running at the same time so I can A/B compare them before deciding to keep it. I can demo the projector for up to 4 hours and still return it w/o any restocking fee and up to 10 hours with a %15 restocking fee. And since I just got a new bulb for my AE4000 it will be a fair comparison.

I don't have a projector (because I don't have a good room for such). I've always thought the Panasonics were the way to go, but I'm very price-sensitive since I'm pretty much just screwing around at the moment. I considered buying an older 720P Panasonic (like an AE900U) off fleabay, but I'm just kicking stuff around for now.

Thanks for the additional info. I wish that I lived somewhere that I could see more projectors. The only thing in Cedar Rapids that I know of has a $10,000 (their price) 3D JVC with an anamorphic lens shooting on to a black diamond screen. None of those variables help me (wrong price point, I don't want a lens, and I won't have a B.D. screen)...